Apparatus for stretching and drying weblike materials



L. BUCK June 11, 1.929.

APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING AND DRYING WEB LIKE MATERIALS N ET i; Z2

4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 17, 1928 June 11, 1929.

1., BUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed March 17, 1928 llll L. BUCK June 11, 1929.

APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING AND DRYING WEB LIKE MATERIALS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1928 June 11, 1929.

APPARATUS L. BUCK 1,717,004

FOR STRETCHING AND DRYING WEB LIKE MATERIALS File M rch 1 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Pateht d lune 11, 1929.

' UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

LUCIEN BUCK, or NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To JAMES HUNTE MAQHINE COMPANY, OF NORTH ADAMS, MAssAcHUsET s, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

. APPARATUS FOR STRETdI-IING AND DRYING WEBLIK-E MATERIALS.

\ Application filed March 17, 1928. Serial ITO/262,890.

This invention pertains to drying apparatus and more particularly to means for stretching and drying web-like materials suchfor example as textile fabric. It has heretofore been common to equip automatic tenter frames, used for stretching lightweight wovertgoods, for instance cottons and silks) with direct radiation coils beneath the variations in width are met'with, for example, widths varying from thirty-six inches .to one hundred and sixty inches, and it has been found practically impossible, by the portions and selvages of the wider widths are improperly dried sothat when released from the frame the fabric curls and draws at its edges. For this reason 'itlias been common to provide a series of tentering frames of graduatedwidths or to employ hand frames for drying and finishing knitted materials of theclass referred to.

In accordance with the present invention I am able to stretch and dry fabrics varying in width from thirty-six inches to one hundred and sixty inches,for example,employuse of previously known apparatus, to dry.

ing a single tentering'frame for the purpose and obtain substantially uniform and perfect itself to all variations in width of the frame and which furnishes the requisite drying effects at the marginal portions and selvages of the fabric, no matter what its width, while at the same time thoroughly drying the central part of the fabric. While I have herein chosen to illustrate the invention as embodied in that type of machine in which the air is heated soutside of the tenter frame proper and discharged into contact with the fabric through a suitable deliverynozzle, I contemplate that as to its broadest principle at least it may be applied to other systems of drying, and I regard all such applications as falling within the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated by way of example one desirable embodiment of my invention but showing only such parts of the tentering frame proper as are necessary to indicate the relation of the present invention thereto.

. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 1811 plan view of more or less diagrammatic character showing my linproved drying and stretching apparatus in its en tirety;

f Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing a desirable arrangement of drying means and indicating parts of the tentering frame proper in broken lines; I

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing portions of the tenter frame in vertical section; a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section to larger scale, substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and showing the parts in position for drying fabric ofthe widest width which the machine is designed to accommodate;

\ Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the parts arranged to dry a narrower fabric;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view showing1 a preferred arrangement of the nozzles; an I 7 Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating certain illustrative modifications. v

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates generally my improved stretching and drying apparatus. That. portion, at.

least, of the apparatus at which the drying action takes place, is preferably housed within a room .or enclosure R having walls 2. These walls may be of any suitable material, preferably of a heat insulating character, and are provided with the necessary doors and air ingress and egress openings; I provide a fan blower 3 of any desired type, preferably disposed outside of the room R: and driven by means of a motor or from other source of power. The intake of this blower is conncctedto a casing 4 containing heating coils, such casing having a port 5 controlled by any suitable form of damper and adapted to pen-.-

mit entrance of fresh up-keep air. The casing 4 is preferably also provided with an air inlet 6 communicating with a conduit 7 which extends into the room R and. which is pro vided with a damper-controlled opening or openings for receiving the warm air from the room so that such air may be delivered to the casing 4 and the fan for recirculation.

The. air from the fan 3 is delivered into; a passage 9 which leads to a conduit 10. extend ing longitudinally of the room R substan tiallythe entire length of the latter. This conduit 10 -(Figsl 3 to 6) is provided with a' substantially flat horizontal upper wall 11 having therein a series of transverse slots preferably arranged in pairs, each pair comprising a slot 12 and a slot 13. For co'nven ience, these slots are initially made to extend across the entire width of the conduit and each slot is provided at its opposite edges with flange members 14 providing guideways for a sliding cover hereafter described. Prefcomprises the member 17, preferably erably one end of each slotis provided with a fixed cover, the slot 12' having the cover 15 'and the slot 13 having the cover 16, such fixed covers being secured to the flange 14. 'As indicated in Fig. 3 the portions of the slots 12 and 13 which are not covered by the members 15 and 16 respectivel extend inwardly from the left-hand and right-hand sides respectively of the conduit to points adjacent to 3r slightly beyond the center line of the conuit.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the sliding cover for the slot 13,.for example,

provided with the transverse bar 18 at its lefthandend, such bar having end portions which slidefreely within the guideways furnished by the flanges 14. The right-hand end portion of the cover member 17 is furnished with an opening for receiving the lower end of an upwardly directed nozzle 19. The cover 17 and the nozzle 19 may be made of any suitable material, for example, sheet metal. Preferably, the nozzle tapers upwardly and terminates in a delivery slot 20 which is narrow in the direction of the length of the conduit but which is elongate transversely of the conduit. The nozzle thus provided is in free communication with the interior of the conduit 10, and byreason of its shape is adapted to deliver a substantially fan-shaped jet or blast of air in an upward direction.

To the right of the nozzle 19 the cover is continued in'the part 17 which is secured at its left-hand edge to the nozzle and is prothe bar 23, and having a second transverse bar 25 at its outer end. The member 21 in turnoverlies another cover member 22 having a transverse ban26 at its inner end and a transverse bar 27 at its outer end. The several cover members 17 21 and 22 are adapted, as indicated in Fig. 6, to cover the outer portion of the slot 13 when the nozzle is moved to the left from the position indicated in Fig. 5, the series of members 17 21 and 22 being sufficient to cover all that portion of the slot which lies to the right of the nozzle when the nozzle moves to its extreme left-hand position. In moving to the left or to the right the several transverse bars 23, 24, etc. engage each other so as to draw one after another of the cover elements laterally into operative position or to cause said several cover members tocollapse one upon another, as shown in F ig. 5'.'

The slot 12 is provided with 'cover'elements similar to those just described and is fur.-

nished with a nozzle 19 similar to the nozzle. 19. s

' I. have here shown the side bars or rails 28 and 29 of a conventional form of tentering machine, such bars or rails being mounted upon supporting guides 32 and being movable toward and from each other by means of suitable adjusting mechanism (not shown) in a Since the manner well known in the art. tentering machine per se is of usual type, I

have omitted to illustrate anything hereln but those elements thereof necessary to show the relation 'of thepresent invention thereto. The rails 28 and 29 are furnished with guideways at their upper portions for longitudi nally extending chains 30 and 31 respectively provided with hooks, clamps or other usual means for engagement with the selvage edges of the web-like fabric 32. During the opera- 4The rail 29 is preferably provided at suit- T able intervals with depending posts 34 to which brackets 35 are attached. The inner ends of brackets 35 are secured by flanges 36 Preferably I provide each main nozzle 19 and 19 of one pair with a conduit-37 extending' from one side wall of the nozzle outward ly through the rail 28 and thence upwardly to a point above the rail where it is provided with an elongate auxiliarydistributing nozzle 39 or 39 respectively provided with a narrow elongate delivery slot 40 or 40. The nozzles 39 and 39 are arranged to direct the air downwardly at points closely adjacent to the chains 31 and 30 and against the upper surface of the web 32 near its selvages.

Each nozzle of the next adjacent pair of movable main nozzles, indicated for example at 19, is provided with a conduit 41 extending laterally and upwardly to, a point just beneath the web 32 and this conduit 41 is provided with an elongate auxiliary delivery nozzle 42 adapted to deliver air against, the under surface of the material near the selvage.

\Vhile as above described I have found it desirablejto associate the outside auxiliary nozzles 39 and 39 withone pair of adjustable main nozzles 19 and 19 respectively, and to associate the inside nozzles 42 with the next nair of adjustable main nozzles 19,'etc., I

wish it to be understood that the invention is not limited to this arrangement, but that the auxiliary outside and inside nozzles may be associated in any desired sequence with the main adjustable nozzles 19, 19, 19, etc. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the main nozzles 19 and 19 are in their outermost positions, the machine being adjusted to-take the widest fabric for which it is designed, but in Fig. 7 I have indicated diagrammatically the arrangement of the several nozzles when the machine is adjusted to take the narrowest fabric.

In addition to the adjustable nozzles 19 and 19 I prefer to provide fixed nozzles 43. As here shown one such fixed nozzle is arranged between each adjacent pair of adjust able main nozzles, and preferably these fixed nozzles are disposed substantially at the center line of the conduit 10 so that they will not interfere with the other parts of the machine when it is adjusted for the narrowest fabric.

The operation of'the machine is substantially as follows, it being assumed that the fabric 32 has been engaged with the hooks, clamps, or other tenter devices carried by the chains 30 and 31, and that the bars 28 and 29 have been adjusted so as to tension the fabric and stretch it to the desired degree. The chain driving means is now set into operation and the blower is started, and as the fabric progresses from one end of the tenter frame to the other, air is delivered from the blower through the conduit 10' and through the main nozzles19, 19, 19 and 43 to the fabric. This .air is preferably conditioned by passing it through the casing 4 where it may be heated ifdesired. This air is delivered from the nozzles 19, 43, etc. in the form of fan-shaped jets, which, collectively, form substantially a continuous blast extending from one edge to the other of the fabric. At the same time, jets of air are delivered/from the auxiliary nozzles 42 directly against the marginal portions of the fabric at its under side for drying that portion of the fabric which is engaged by the clamps or hooks of the tenter chain. Likewiseair is delivered from the nozzles 39 and 39 downwardly against the upper surface of the fabric at its margins,

\ assisting. the air from the nozzles 42in drying the selvage portions of the fabric.

Since the nozzles 19, 19, 19, etc. bear a fixed relation to the adjustable rails 28 and 29, these movable nozzles partake of the adjustment of the rails so that no matter yvheth;

er the railsare occupying their extreme outermost position, or are adjusted inwardly the nozzles 19, 19 etc. are always positioned to distribute" air against the outer portions of the fabric, while the central fixed nozzles 43 furnish the necessary air for drying the mid 2.

portions of thefabric. Likewise, as the auxiliary nozzles 39, 39, 42 etc. move with the rails 28 and 39, they always bear a fixed relation to the selvages of the fabric and are thus adapted to furnish air for drying the selvages no matter howwide the fabric may be. Prefera-bly the nozzles 39, 39,42 etc. are elongate in the direction of length of the fabric, and if desired these nozzles'may be made of such length as to provide a substantially continuous blast of air at the selvage portion of the fabric. However, such extreme elongation of the auxiliary nozzles 42 at least is'seldom necessary, since the air delivered from these nozzles is confined within the angle between the fabric and the rails of the tenter frame, and thus tends to flow in opposite directions from the delivery point. 1

In Fig. 8 the conduit 10 is provided with centrally disposed fixednozzles 43 -and with laterally disposed adjustable nozzles 19 carried by telescoping tubes 17- which in all positions of extension or collapse communicate with the interior of the conduit 10.

- In Fig. 9 the conduit 10 is provided with centrally disposed fixed "nozzles 43 and the laterally disposed adjustable nozzles 19 which are connected to the conduit by means 0; collapsible and expansible bellows tubes. 1 y. y I

In Fig. 10 I have shown an arrangement in, which the adjustable nozzles 19 are secured to' relatively movable conduits 10 These conduits may be shifted in any desired manner transversely of the drying apparatus and may be connected at their ends to any suitable source of air supplyf In Fig. 11 the conduit 1O is furnished with the centrally disposed stationary noz- ,zles 43 and with the laterally disposed adjustable nozzles 19".

The nozzles 19 are connected by swivel means-to the ends of swinging tubular arms 17 having pivotal connections with the conduit 10 and always communicating with the interior of the latter. I

In Figs. 12 and 13 I haveshown a conduit 10 provided at suitable intervals with swiveled nozzles 43 adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis and always communicating with the-interior of the conduit. These nozzles .are furnished with elongate delivery slots so that by turning them they may be caused to deliver a thin sheet of air which may be disposed transversely of the width of the. conduit or substantially in line with the latter.

-In Fig. 14 I have illustrated an arrangement in which the conduit 10' is disposed above the plane of the fabric 32 held by the tenter chains and 31 respectively.

This conduit is provided with downwardly .30 directed nozzles 43" and laterally adjust.-

able nozzles 19'. It is obvious that any of the arrangements of nozzles heretofore described may be applied to a conduit disposed above the material as shown in' Fig. 14 as I well as to a conduit disposed below the material, and in its broader aspects I contemplate that the inventionwill include all such arrangements.

While I have herein illustrated certain. desirable formsof apparatus, 1 wish it to be understood that this is merely by way of example, and that variations in size, shape,

1 proportion and relative arrangement of parts nozzle in all positions of adjustment thereof.

2. Apparatus of the class described having devices for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, said devices being adjustable toward and from each other, sald apparatus comprising a nozzle fixed relatively to each of said devices and (adjustable therewith, each nozzle being elongate transversely'of the material, and means for deliveringa drying air current to said nozzles.

3. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter devices for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like ma terial, one at least of said tenter devices being bodily adjustable in a direction toward and from the other, said apparatus comprising a nozzle fixed relatively to the bodily adjustable device and partaking of the adjustments of the latter, and means for delivering a drying air current to said nozzle in all positions thereof.

4. Apparatusof the class described having a pair of tenter devices 'for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and adjustable supporting means for each tenter device arranged to permit separation or approach of the devices, said apparatus comprising a nozzle fixedly connected to each of saidadjustable supporting means and movable with the latter, and means for supplying desiccating air current to each nozzle in all positions of adjustment thereof.

5. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter chains for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and means supporting, said chains for bodily adjustment toward and from each other, said apparatus comprising a conduit disposed below the plane of the chains and between them,

two series of sliding nozzles disposed below v the plane of the chains, the nozzles of one series being'fixed to and adjustable with the supporting means for one chain and the noz zles of the other series being fixed to and adjustable with the supporting means for the other chain, said nozzles communicating with the conduit in all positions of adjustment,

and means supplying the conduit with air fordelivery from the several nozzles.

.6. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter chains for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and means supporting said chainsfor bodily adjustment toward and from each other, said apparatus comprising a conduit disposed below the plane of the chains and between them,

two series of movable nozzles disposed below vthe plane of the chains, one series being adjustable with the supporting means for one chain and the other series being ad ustable with the supporting means for the other chain, a series of fixed nozzles also disposed ,below the plane of the chains, all of the'nozzles being directed upwardly and communicating at all times with the conduit, and means for supplying the conduit with air under pressure for delivery from the several nozzles.

7. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter chains for engaging the opposite edgss respectively of web-like material,

and means supporting said chains for bodily adjustment toward and from each other, said the plane of the chains, one series. being adjustable with the supporting means for one chain and the other series being adjustable with the supporting means for, the other chain, a series of fixed nozzles disposed substantially midway between the vertical planes of the chains, all of the nozzles being shaped to deliver transverse substantially fan-shaped blasts against the material and all communicating at all times with the conduit,

and means supplying the conduit with air under pressure for delivery from the several nozzles.

8. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter devices engageable respectively with the opposite edges of web-like material, and means supporting at least one of said tenter devices for bodily adjustment toward and from the other, said apparatus comprising an air delivery nozzle fixed relatively to-said tenter device so as to be adjustable therewith, said nozzle being arranged to deliver a blast of air outwardly toward the selvage' of the web-like material held by the tenter devices, and means for supplying air for delivery from the nozzle.

9. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter devices engageable with the selvage edges respectively of web-like material and supporting such material in a substantially horizontal plane, and means supporting at least one of said tenter devices for bodily adjustment toward and from the other, said apparatus comprising a. nozzle fixed relatively to said adjustable tenter dcv1ce, said nozzle being disposed below the plane of the tenter devices and directed upwardly and outwardly toward the selvage of the web-like material, and means supplying air under pressure for delivery bysaid nozzle. v

10. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter chains for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and means supporting said chains for bodily adjustment toward and from each other, said apparatus comprising a nozzle carried by each of said supporting means and adjustable concomitantly with the respective chains, said nozzles being arranged to deliver blastsof air outwardly toward the respective chains, and means for supplying air for delivery from said nozzles.

11. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter chains for engaging-the 'opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and means supporting said chains for bodily adjustment toward and from each other, said apparatus comprising a nozzle adjustable concomitantly with each chain,

.each tenter device arranged to permit separation or approach of the devices, said apparatus comprising a nozzle rigidly connected to each of said adjustable supporting means and adjustable with the latter, each nozzle being narrow in the direction of the length of the conduit so ,as to deliver a thin blast of air, a conduit leading laterally from each nozzle, each conduit having an auxiliary nozzle directed toward-the selvage of the web-like material, and means for supplying air for delivery from the several nozzles.

13. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter devices for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and adjustable supporting means for each tenter device arranged to permit separation or approachof the devices, said apparatus comprising a nozzle connected to each of said adjustable supporting means and movable with the latter, each nozzle being wide transversely of the conduit and relatively narrow longitudinally of the conduit and being arranged to deliver blasts upwardly against the under surface of material supported by the tenter devices, a pipe moving with each of said nozzles, each pipe having an auxiliary nozzle directed toward the selvage of the material, and means for supplying air for delivery from the several nozzles,

14. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter devices for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like material, and adjustable supporting means for each tenter device arranged to permit separation or approach of the devices, said apparatus comprising a nozzle connected to each of said adjustable supporting means and movable with the latter, each nozzle being narrow in the direct-ion of the length of the conduit so as to deliver a thin blast of air, a conduit leading laterally from each nozzle, each conduit having an auxiliary nozzle directed toward the selvage of the web-like material, each auxiliary nozzle being elongate in the direction of length of the conduit, and means for supplying air for delivery from the several nozzles.

15. Apparatus of the class described hav- I ing a pair of tenter devices engageable with said nozzle being disposed above the plane of the tenter devices and directed downwardly toward the selvage edge of the material, and an air supply conduit leading from below the plane of the tenter devices and laterally outward and upward to the nozzle.

- .16. Apparatus of the class described havw'ardly toward the selvage of the web-like material, and means supplying air under pressure for delivery by said nozzle. I

17. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter chains for engaging the opposite edges respectively ofweb-like material, and means supporting said chains for bodily adjustment toward and from each other, said apparatus comprising a nozzle adjustable concomitantly with each of said chains, one nozzle being directed upwardly toward one chain and the other being directed downwardly toward the other chain, and means for supplying airfor delivery from said nozzles.

18. Apparatus of the class described having a pair of tenter devices for engaging the opposite edges respectively of web-like ma terial, and adjusta le supporting means for each tenter device arranged to permit separation or approach of the devices,said apparatus comprising a nozzle connected to each of said adjustable supporting means and movable with the latter, each nozzle being constructed to deliver a fan-shaped blast upwardly against the under side of material held by the tenter devices, a pipe extendinglaterally from each nozzle, one pipe terminating in an auxiliary nozzle below the material, and'the other pipe extending outwardly an-dupwardly and terminating .in an auxiliary nozzle above the material, and means supplying air for delivery from the several nozzles.

19. Apparatus of the-class described comprising an air conduithaving a wall provided with parallel slots therein, a sliding cover for each slot, each cover supporting an air delivery nozzle communicating with the conduit in all positions of adjustment of the cover, and a tenter chain carrier rigidly united to each cover. i

20. Apparatus of the class described comprising an" elongate air conduit having a substantially horizontal wall provided with substantially parallel slots therein, a-nozzle adjustable longitudinally of each slot and communicating with the conduit in all positions of adjustment, and means for closing all portions of each slot which are not covered by the respective nozzles.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprisin an elongate conduit having asubstantially flat upper wall and a pair of slots in said upper wall extending from opposite edges respectively of the conduit toward its center, a sliding cover member for each slot, each cover supporting a nozzle which communicates at all times with the interior of the conduit, anda fixed nozzle disposed substantially midway between the sides of the conduit and also'communicating with theinterior of the conduit.

22. Apparatus of the class rescribed comprising an elongate air conduit having a substantially horizontal wall provided with a series of pairs of slots thereinfthe slots of each pair extendin from opposite edges respectively of the conduit toward its center, a sliding cover for each slot, each cover carrying a nozzlewhich communicates at all times with the interior of the conduit, a fixed nozzle disposed between each pair of adjustable nozzles and also communicating with the interior of the conduit, and means for supplying the conduit with air \under pres:

sure.

23. Apparatus of the class described com 1 prising an elongate air conduit having a substantially horizontal wall provided with substantially parallel slots therein, a nozzle adjusta-ble longitudinally of each slot andcommunicating with the-conduit in all positions of adjustment, each nozzle having fixed thereto a pair of oppositely dlrected cover members, and a plurality of telescoping cover members associated with at least one of said first named cover members and cooperating therewith to close that part of the slot not occupied by the nozzle.

24. Apparatus ofthe class described comstantially horizontal wall provided with substantially parallel slots therein, a nozzle admunicating with the conduit in all positions of adjustment, and telescoping cover memare notcovered by-the respective nozzles. i 2.5. Apparatus of the class described comprising an elongate air conduit having a subprising an elongate air conduit having a subbers for closing all portions of each slot which stantially horizontal wall providedwith sub-- stantially parallel slots therein, a nozzle adjustable longitudinally of each slot and'communicating with the conduit in all positions of adjustment, and a plurality of telescoping cover members associated. with each nozzle and movable with the latter to close aportion of the slot not covered by such nozzle.

- Signed, by meat North Adams, Massa-.

- chusetts, this 27th day of January 1928.

' .LUCIEN BUCK.

. 110 justable longitudinally of each slot and comr 

